The Pilgrims - Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact (1620)

The full text of the Mayflower Compact, as recorded by William Bradford in his journal Of Plymouth Plantation, is the primary source. Here is the relevant excerpt:

“In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic…”

The Mayflower Compact’s statement is a cornerstone of American religious history, reflecting the Pilgrims’ mission to build a Christian society.

Source Reference:
Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620–1647. Edited by Samuel Eliot Morison. New York: Knopf, 1952. (The original manuscript, written by Bradford, is a key primary source and preserved in the State Library of Massachusetts.)

Historical Accounts and Analysis

1. William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation:

As governor of Plymouth Colony, Bradford chronicled the Pilgrims’ journey and early years. He describes the Separatists’ desire to spread Christianity and escape religious persecution in England. The Compact’s language reflects their belief that their colony was a divine endeavor.

Bradford notes the Pilgrims’ intent to create a “city upon a hill” (a phrase later popularized by John Winthrop in 1630), emphasizing a model Christian community.

2. Context of Puritan Migration (1630 and Beyond):

While the Mayflower Compact was signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims (a subset of Puritans), the broader Puritan migration began in 1630 with the arrival of John Winthrop the 1st Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  John Winthrop, declared that they had “entered into covenant with God for this work.” He also declared that God “shall make us a praise and glory… a city upon a Hill” (Matthew 5:14), which has been referenced by no less than 12 U.S. Presidents. Winthrop’s sermon, A Model of Christian Charity (1630), echoes the Compact’s themes, urging settlers to build a godly society “for the glory of God.”

The Puritans (non-Separatist, seeking to reform the Church of England) shared the Pilgrims’ commitment to advancing Christianity, though their governance and scale differed.